Hindus throughout Nepal are observing Nag Panchami, the festival to honour snakes on Thursday.

The festival falls on the Shrawan Shukla Panchami as per the lunar calendar and is marked by worshipping Nag or the snake god.

Most Hindus paste a picture of Nag on the main door of the house to mark the auspicious day.

The Nag is worshipped as the god of rain and water and is believed to bestow his devotees with wealth and prosperity with his presence in the house.

It is believed that pasting the picture of the snake god also safeguards the family from snakes and scorpions, and also from fire and lightning.

Special pujas are being observed in Nagpokhari and Taudaha in Kathmandu, Siddhapokhari in Bhaktapur and other ponds and shrines in the country today.

Here are some images of the festival being observed in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur taken by Post’s photographers Sanjog Manandhar and Elite Joshi.